I am not a mobile professional who is on the road a lot or spends hours on
the cellphone. However, I am a consumer with a Bluetooth phone who would like
to talk on my phone while in the car or out and about. I wanted to check out
a couple of consumer-grade Bluetooth headsets (not the expensive digital models),
and Logitech and Nextlink.to sent a couple of review units. Logitech sent its
Mobile
Bluetooth Headset, and Nextlink.to sent its Bluespoon
Chameleon. The Logitech model can
be found for US$62, and the Bluespoon retails for $149 (compared to the
digital model at $375), although it is a bit more difficult to find in the U.S.--the
Nextlink.to site has a couple of contact points to purchase one. I have a Nokia
3650 that I tested these models with, and thought I would also see how they
worked with my PDA; but my PDAs (iPAQ 4350 and Tapwave Zodiac2) do
not support a headset profile at this time.

Logitech Mobile Bluetooth Headset
I was interested in the Logitech model because of the very reasonable price
point and the fact that I have been pleased with the quality of Logitech products
in the past. The Logitech model is Bluetooth v1.1-compliant, and the specifications
include full duplex (bidirectional communication) digital transmission, range
of 33 feet, up to 7 hours of talk time, standby time of one month, and rechargeable
lithium ion battery, all in a package weighing less than one ounce. It can be
mounted on either ear, and switching from one to the other will just change
the location of the multi-function button.

Logitech model and charging/carrying
case

The headset uses Logitech's soft-touch surface, and it feels quite nice in
your hand and mounted on your ear. The headset attaches with a clamp that opens
and fits behind your ear. I was able to wear it with my glasses without any
problem, and it stayed on well. I did find that it becomes a bit uncomfortable
and presses on my ear after about 25 minutes of continuous wear. As a consumer,
though, I would put it on in the car for my conversations and then take it off
and set it next to me anyway, so this wasn't a problem.

Close up of headset and
rocker button

There is an easy-to-feel volume level rocker button that I had no problem adjusting
on my ear. There is also a multifunction button that provides functions such
as power on/off and answer/end calls, depending on your phone model.

The ear piece is covered in foam and feels great. The microphone is noise-canceling,
and people I spoke to said I sounded fine and they didn't notice a difference
between the headset and my phone's mic. Conversations were clear through the
headset, and I was pleased with the audio.

The mini-boom is retractable and swings over the ear piece so you can place
the headset in the large protective case. The case doubles as the charging station
and is not something you'll probably carry around with you. There is also an
LED indicator light that turns blue or red depending on the headset state.

Pairing was quite simple with my Nokia 3650, and I was up and running in just
minutes after charging the headset.

Wearing the Logitech
headset

Nextlink.to Bluespoon Chameleon
The Bluespoon Chameleon has a unique design, and its specifications include
an extremely light weight of 0.6 ounces, 4-6 hours of talk time, 200 hours of
standby time, replaceable covers, the same standard 10 meters (33 feet) range,
and Bluetooth 1.1-compliance. One feature mentioned in the Bluespoon manual
is the ability to pair with up to threedevices. I only have one Bluetooth phone
so I couldn't test out this ability.

Wearing the Bluespoon
Chameleon with burgundy cover

The headset reminds me of a beetle, and it's very unique. It can be a bit strange
to put on and is designed specifically for the right ear only. You place the
device into your ear and then rotate it counter-clockwise until the soft spring
bends in the curve of your ear and feels secure. It took some getting used to
and practice to get it mounted securely, but then it felt secure unless I shook
or bounced my head around. I did find that it became a bit uncomfortable in
my ear after about 10 minutes of use, and, again, I would not leave it in my
ear for long periods of time. I think the speaker was a bit too large for my
comfort.

Underside showing the
speaker and mounting spring

There are two indicator lights that also serve as the multi-function buttons.
They light up in either blue or red depending on the action. They were a bit
difficult to find, and it was a little hard to ensure that I had pressed them
in while the headset was mounted to my ear. If I pressed too hard it also messed
up the secure mounting in my ear.

Pairing the device with my phone was a breeze using the 3333 passkey. I was
amazed that the microphone mounted back by my ear would accurately pick up my
voice, but others said I sounded fine. If your phone supports it, the Chameleon
can be used to voice-dial your phone, which is great for being truly hands-free
and mobile. Different audio tones will be heard to give you the status of your
headset.

The headset charging base looks like a small airplane and works well for securely
holding the Chameleon in place while charging. The charging cradle has to be
used for total power off and on purposes and for resetting the headset if you
have an issue.

A stylish feature is the ability to change out the covers, and you receive
two in the box: black and burgundy. A foam wind blocker is also included that
wraps around the entire headset. The wind blocker can also be used to protect
the headset from dust and scratches. Since the headset is so small, a carrying
strap is also included. However, this may drag down the headset a bit when you
mount it in your ear.

The Chameleon mounted
in the charging base

Conclusions
I prefer the Logitech model due to its easy placement over my ear and the access
to its buttons. Logitech has a two-year limited warranty on this product, and
it is readily available in the United States. I never had a battery life issue
after using it for several days between charges.

I found the mounting a bit uncomfortable and the buttons hard to locate on
the Bluespoon model. The Chameleon has more functionality and is the solution
you want if you are looking for something small and unobtrusive, but for my
uses the Logitech is great.

The sound through both models was great and I didn't notice a real difference
between the two.

UPDATE 4/2/2004
There have been several reader reports of incompatability between the Logitech
Bluetooth Headset and the Nokia 3650 smartphone. The model I reviewed was #F-0179A,
P/N 12-00261. Also, the Nokia 3650 I used has the following software version
loaded: V2.54, 02-03-2003, NHL-8. I've had no incompatability issues, and the
headset works to answer calls, place voice-dialed calls, listen to games, music
from the phone, etc. Please be aware that there may be issues with the Logitech
and Nokia 3650 you own.

Ratings DefenseThe Logitech Mobile Bluetooth Headset earns 4.5 Geekheads
for Quality because its battery life is amazing, the speaker volume and quality
and noise-canceling microphone all work great, and the unit is durable. It also
earns 4.5 Geekheads for Geekness because of the ability to wear it on either
ear, the very fast setup with a phone, and the swing-out boom.

The Nextlink.to.to Bluespoon Chameleon earns 4 Geekheads for Quality because
it is very durable, the speaker and sound quality are good, and the charging
base is well constructed and portable. I give it 5 Geekheads for Geekness because
of the unique small form factor and the interchangeable covers. Also, the charging
base is quite geeky with its airplane/spaceship fins.